Bessie A. Smotherman Stroud

September 18, 1931 – August 6, 2018

Service
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Family Visitation: 1:00 P.M.
Funeral Service: 2:00 P.M.

New Beginnings Christian Center
3475 Bradyville Pike
Murfreesboro,  Tennessee

Interment
Lovvorn Cemetery
Barfield Community
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Born on September 18, 1931 in Christiana, TN. Bessie Allen was the seventh child of Charlie and Lucy Ann (Morgan) Smotherman. In her early life she attended Rutherford County Schools, later she moved to Mt. Pleasant to live with her older brother Robert and his wife Alberta Smotherman, there she graduated from Clark Training School in 1952. Bessie attended Tennessee State University and received an Associate Degree.

Bessie was a woman of Christian faith who believed in the power of prayer and with that and her trust in God, she later relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio where she attended Christ Hospital School of Nursing and received her LPN license. In 1956 Bessie married James Stroud and to this union was born Sidney and Quanda. Together, they had a blended family with 3 daughters and 3 sons. Although separated, Bessie and Jimmy never divorced, and they maintained a close relationship until his passing in 2014.

Bessie also attended the historic Poro Beauty College where she became a licensed cosmetologist. She worked in various salons until 1974 and while still employed as a hospital nurse she opened her own salon, “Charms, Clips and Curls.” She was an award-winning stylist and a successful business owner who had loyal customers who followed her until she sold her shop and relocated back to Nashville. Bessie continued her nursing career for 50 years and retired from Trevecca Nursing and Rehabilitation in Nashville after 10 years of dedicated service. 

Bessie was welcomed into eternal life by her parents Charlie and Lucy; Jimmy, her spouse of 58 years; five brothers, Ellie Bea, Robert, Wayman, Grady, Andrew Smotherman; two sisters, Lucy Bell White and Emma Butler; two step-sons, James Jr. and Arthur Stroud; and her first-born beloved granddaughter, Ashiwa Stroud-Thompkins.

She is survived by daughters, Tonya Stroud and Quanda Stroud; son, Sidney Smotherman; sisters, Respy Elizabeth Robinson and Katherine Claude; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.